Apple is constantly upgrading its operating system, and the 18.6.2 version offers essential security fixes. However, Apple decided to skip iOS 19 and instead has been working on the iOS 26 adaptation.
The shocking replacement is the fresh Liquid Glass design that will have a smoother, glassier, and clearer appearance on the control center, home screen, and lock screen. All the buttons, apps, and widgets will have a major design change. The icon visual designs have been created to be more minimalist, but still noticeable. For iPhones and iPads, the lockscreen’s aesthetic will consist of a 3D design effect of the clock. The screens will still adjust their themes - dark or light mode - determined by the user’s surroundings.
Another brand-new iOS 26 feature is the ’’Hold Assist’’ option for your iPhone, including iPhone 17, that will inform you when to come to the phone to discuss with a representative, so you don’t have to be put on hold and listen to background music for a long period of time.
iOS 26 beta will also focus on the Phone app, which currently has the recent calls, contacts, and voicemail separate, but with the redesign, all of these categories will be available on one screen. Plus, there will be a call filtering feature that immediately asks anonymous callers to say their name and the motive for dialing before the other person answers.
As for the user’s safety, unknown senders who spam or message suspicious offers with malicious links will be filtered as well in the Messages app, in a different folder. For the FaceTime App, users, especially children and teenagers, will benefit from the ’’Communication Safety’’ feature that will instantly stop the video call if any sort of nudity is observed.
In the iOS 26 beta, there will be a live translation option for all the communication apps, poll suggestions in your group chats on the Message App, and the separation of Library and Collections in the Photos App.
One last notable mention, besides the upcoming iPhone 17 series and the liquid glass design, is the AI integration of the Visual Intelligence feature. This will help you find and search for anything that you want, as long as it is on your device screen. For example, if you come upon a set of kitchen utensils, this feature will find the perfect set for your needs.
